China Urges North Korea to Halt Provocation

Beijing, – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged North Korea to refrain from further provocations following its latest missile launch.

Wang told reporters in Tokyo on Wednesday that China hopes North Korea will not strain or complicate the situation any further, adding that other countries should also continue to exercise self-restraint on the matter.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida has asked for close coordination with China and South Korea on pressing issues, including that of North Korea, NHK broadcaster reported.

The request follows the North’s launch of the ballistic missile on Wednesday. The South Korean government strongly denounced the latest ballistic missile launch, and condemned the North for its repeated nuclear and missile tests, calling them provocations.

Unification Ministry spokesperson Jeong Joon-hee told reporters at a regular news conference on Wednesday that North Korea is threatening peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry has also accused North Korea of ignoring repeated warnings from the international community.

The ministry said in a statement that it strongly condemns the North for conducting nuclear and ballistic missile tests in violation of UN Security Council resolutions, and for firing another submarine-launched ballistic missile early Wednesday morning.